Gotta BE A Mis-Print!

Bottle-wielding man foils Va. truck-stop robbery

Tuesday, May 11, 2010(05-11) 17:54 PDT CARMEL CHURCH, Va. (AP)

Officials said a customer who struck a gun-toting man on the head with two beer bottles foiled a robbery at a truck stop off Interstate 95. Sheriff's officials say the would-be robber brandished a gun at the clerk Saturday night at Mr. Fuel and demanded money, then pointed the weapon at several store customers. One customer walked to the rear of the store, got two beer bottles and struck the suspect in the back of the head.

The customer struggled with the gunman, who in turn shot him several times. The customer didn't suffer life-threatening injuries.

Sheriff's officials say the gunman hasn't been arrested.

A telephone message left Tuesday for Gary Poland, the general manager of Mr. Fuel, wasn't immediately returned.

The man wanted for shooting a Good Samaritan four times during an attempted robbery in Caroline County recently was arrested last night.
Warren Harold Brown, 31, of Richmond is charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated malicious wounding, attempted robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Caroline Sheriff's Office investigators, detectives from Richmond and Chesterfield County police departments, and the United States Marshall's Fugitive Task Force engaged in an intensive manhunt for Brown Tuesday night, said Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa.

Lippa said the investigation involved numerous simultaneous surveillance operations and the execution of a search warrant at a home in Chesterfield County.

The joint effort resulted in Brown's arrest in the south Richmond area last night, he said.

"I would like to thank all of the concerned citizens, the media and the assisting law enforcement agencies for their outstanding support, which made it possible to apprehend this armed and dangerous suspect in such a timely fashion," Lippa said.

On May 8, a man entered the Mr. Fuel gas station in Carmel Church about 9:30 p.m. displaying a gun and demanding money.

A male customer entered the store and saw what was going on. He grabbed two bottles of beer from the refrigerator cases at the back of the store and struck the robber in the back of the head, Lippa said.

The two men struggled before the robber turned and shot the man four times, striking him in the head, shoulder and both legs.

The robber fled the store on foot and got away, Lippa said.
The Good Samaritan, a 61-year-old man from Maryland, is expected to recover from his injuries, Lippa said. He was released from Mary Washington Hospital the following day.

Lippa said the Good Samaritan, whose actions received national attention when the store's surveillance video was leaked to the media, wishes to remain anonymous.

"We all recognize that his actions probably saved the lives of the employees and patrons in the store that night by his selfless reactions and risking of his own life," Lippa said. "I do not recommend that citizens attempt to intervene when a crime is in progress, especially when the suspect is armed, such as in this case.

"I ask that citizens be the best witness they can be and collect as much information about the suspect as possible," he said.
Nevertheless, Lippa said the Good Samaritan in this case is truly a hero.